Press release

Captain Miljkovic sails Serbia home with win over USA

Evan Patak had a tough day against strong Serbian blocking

Tokyo, Japan, December 4, 2011 - The USA, having taken a tough five set win against the explosive Cuban squad on Saturday night, took on European Champion Serbia in their final 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup match on Sunday at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Indeed Serbia played like champions in this one, taking the match 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-19) as the USA rested some players.

Leading Serbia in scoring was their captain Ivan Miljkovic with 20 hard-hitting points, taking the most impressive player award in the process. For the USA team it was Sean Rooney notching 10 points in a losing effort. Serbia led the USA in blocking 11-7 and out-served five aces to three.

Marko Podrascanin helped Serbia out of the blocks early posting a pair of blocks first on Evan Patak and then on David Lee. But Patak was attacking well himself, going hard at Nikola Rosic with a spike to tie at 7-7. But Nikola Kovasevic posted a wonderful block on Anderson to edge out by two. The USA would tie at 11-11, but the powerful Miljkovic got his attack rolling from there putting his side up 20-18 on a blistering drive. From there the high flying Nikic would pitch in a block and a spike, and after some USA resistance Serbia clinched the set with Miljkovic’s eighth score at 25-23.

The teams were even to start the second with Dragon Stankovic dropping a spike and an ace to help Serbia’s cause, but David Lee countered with a hard strike of his own to even at 10-10. But Serbia took five of the next six capped by Podrascanin third block, and soon after another Miljkovic spike made it 17-13. An ace from Nikic put Serbia up six, and Podrascanin’s fourth block (on Patek) would help close the a strong set 25-17, two sets to zero.

Paul Lotman looked to turn things around for the USA in the third, putting his side ahead 5-1 with a hard spike. But Nikola Kovacevic soon countered with three straight points for Serbia, including an ace that found its mark. It was tied 8-8 when Miljkovic sparked Serbia with a block on Patak. Serbia’s captain would follow with two more drives and combined with some USA errors, they’d go up 15-10. Nikic bought a spike, and another block on Patak to help Serbia up 20-14, but the USA took five of the next six capped by a Priddy ace to get back within two. But it was too little too late as a Miljkovic block and spike put Serbia over the top, 25-19, winning the match 3-0.